HUNDREDS of tourists have started boarding the Celebrity Eclipse in Bilbao, which has sailed to Spain to rescue some of those stranded by the flights chaos caused by the volcanic ash cloud.

Here are some of their stories.

Southampton couple Yvonne and David Parkes were thrilled to returningto their home city onboard a luxury liner.

Their holiday on the Costa del Sol began on Friday, April 11when they flew out from Bournemouth Airport.The Lordshill grandparents were due to fly back last Friday, but were effectively prisoners in their hotel for four extra nights.

On Tuesday they were put on a coach to Lloret de Mar, expecting tothen travel to Calais to cross to Dover."We had 14 hours on the coach to Lloret de Mar, the driver got lost,we had about three hours and then spent the night at a hotel," MrsParkes, a medical secretary at Brook House Surgery in Shirley, said."We then got on a coach at 10am yesterday, which we have only just gotof now. We crossed the border into France to go to Calais whensuddenly the coach turned around and took us back to the hotel.

"Nobody spoke English, we didn't know what was happening. Then at 11pm last night we were told we were coming here.

We have had no food andjust one toilet stop."It was horrendous on the coach, there was an elderly lady next to us who was being sick into a bag and children crying. We're never goingabroad again, we're sticking to the UK from now on.

"But there has been quite a good camaraderie amongst the passengers. Wehave been laughing together and moaning together. We have made somegood friends along the way.

"We are just so pleased to be coming home. Our daughters have beenworried, we've been constantly texting and phoning them."We were absolutely thrilled when we were told we were going back on aliner to Southampton. I'm looking forward to a cup of tea and ashower.

"Thomson have allowed us £40 allowance and all food is complimentary. We think it is wonderful and we are so thrilled that they have donethis for us."We couldn't see any light at the end of the tunnel. We're lookingforward to spending a day on here and we''ll probably wish it was abit longer.Mr Parkes, a school bus driver in the New Forest, added: "We've neverbeen on a liner before. I've only been on the Isle of Wight ferry -this is going to be a bit different. It looks wonderful."It was an extra week's holiday, but it didn't feel like it because wecouldn't go out of the hotel. I just can't wait to get back to Southampton."

THE Jordan family, from Braintree, in Essex, were relieved to befinally returning to British soil.

The Iceland volcano added £3,000 to the cost of their holiday in Murcia after they were forced to spend six extra nights in Spani and then organise their own transport to Bilbao.

"It feels just brilliant to be coming home. We are all absolutely elated," mum Michelle Jordan said.

"We had to hire a mini-bus and drive 11 hours to get to Bilbao.

It has cost us about £3,000, but when you have got to get home, you have got to get home.

Dad Paul added: "It has been a tiring couple of days, but we are almost there now. "I don't think that we are going to claim any money back, I can't see us getting any of it."

Danny and Frankie Payne from Pontefract

A FAMILY from Pontefract, in Yorkshire, have been on perhaps one of the longest journeys back to the UK.

The family of six were left stranded in Cancun after their flight home was cancelled on Thursday.

After three extra nights in the Mexican resort they were flown to Alicante in Spain by their tour operator.

"When we were told we were going home on a liner we went on the internet to have a look at it," Frankie Payne, 14, said. "I couldn't believe it. I was so shocked.

We have never been on a cruiser before so this is going to be fantastic.

"Dad Danny, 51, added: "It is such a relief to be finally coming home.

We were very well looked after. The standard of accommodation has been first rate."

Alison and Nick Treglown, both teachers from Salisbury, were holidaying in Malaga.

They were due to fly back on Sunday but spent three extra nights in a hotal and then a sleepless night on a coach to Bilbao.

Alison, who has a fear of boats, said: "Everybody who knows me knows that I hate boats, but I am just so pleased to be going home.

"I think I will cry when we get on board."

"It's such a relief. I think this experience has helped me to understand what it is like to be a refugee in a foreign country."

Nick added: "We are so grateful to the cruise company, but I think there are a lot of lessons to be learned from this global catastrophe."

Deborah O'Nions, from Leeds, was due to return from Spain on Saturday.

"We went on holiday for my 50th birthday and I cannot believe we are going home on a cruise ship.

"I am going to get my bikini out and make the most of it."

The president and CEO of Celebrity Cruises, Dan Hanrahan, said the boarding is running on schedule and that the ship should depart at 11am UK time.

He said crew members had boarded the coaches to check in the British tourists and allocate cabins.

"It feels really good to see them. We are moving them on as quickly as we can.

"We could not have done this without the help of the tour operators. A lot of work has gone into this over the past 24 hours and I'm sure the people coming aboard will appreciate that."